Graphene Membranes for Fuel Cells | Prabhuraj Balakrishnan | TEDxDurhamUniversity

research walk is an interesting and a

research walk is an interesting and a fascinating journey for myself the

fascinating journey for myself the

fascinating journey for myself the scientific world is hearing a lot about

scientific world is hearing a lot about

scientific world is hearing a lot about graphene graphene and its enormous

graphene graphene and its enormous

graphene graphene and its enormous applications in different fields of

applications in different fields of

applications in different fields of science and technology so what is

science and technology so what is

science and technology so what is graphene have you ever heard about this

graphene have you ever heard about this

graphene have you ever heard about this new material so graphene is just a

new material so graphene is just a

new material so graphene is just a carbon material discovered by the School

carbon material discovered by the School

carbon material discovered by the School of Physics in the University of

of Physics in the University of

of Physics in the University of Manchester this material graphene has

Manchester this material graphene has

Manchester this material graphene has extraordinary physical and chemical

extraordinary physical and chemical

extraordinary physical and chemical properties as a result this has got the

properties as a result this has got the

properties as a result this has got the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010 so my

Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010 so my

Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010 so my project is based on using this graphene

project is based on using this graphene

project is based on using this graphene for sustainable energy applications so

for sustainable energy applications so

for sustainable energy applications so electrical energy so we use electrical

electrical energy so we use electrical

electrical energy so we use electrical energy to power our laptops smartphones

energy to power our laptops smartphones

energy to power our laptops smartphones to run our household on even Intersil

to run our household on even Intersil

to run our household on even Intersil appliances so this electrical energy is

appliances so this electrical energy is

appliances so this electrical energy is playing a dominant role in our

playing a dominant role in our

playing a dominant role in our day-to-day activities

day-to-day activities

day-to-day activities so did we notice that so we have been

so did we notice that so we have been

so did we notice that so we have been using wide variety of materials are the

using wide variety of materials are the

using wide variety of materials are the devices so far so we have been using

devices so far so we have been using

devices so far so we have been using devices like the batteries internal

devices like the batteries internal

devices like the batteries internal combustion engines and super capacitors

combustion engines and super capacitors

combustion engines and super capacitors for our energy demands did we notice

for our energy demands did we notice

for our energy demands did we notice that this demand for the energy keeps

that this demand for the energy keeps

that this demand for the energy keeps increasing day by day at the same time

increasing day by day at the same time

increasing day by day at the same time the materials which has been used as the

the materials which has been used as the

the materials which has been used as the sources of energy or fast depleting as a

sources of energy or fast depleting as a

sources of energy or fast depleting as a result of social and economic

result of social and economic

result of social and economic developments in also effective so what

developments in also effective so what

developments in also effective so what is the result of using these devices so

is the result of using these devices so

is the result of using these devices so far and what is the benefit or the

far and what is the benefit or the

far and what is the benefit or the essential to the society apart from this

essential to the society apart from this

essential to the society apart from this energy is that we have the pollution

energy is that we have the pollution

energy is that we have the pollution problem even if you take the case of the

problem even if you take the case of the

problem even if you take the case of the batteries or the combustion engines or

batteries or the combustion engines or

batteries or the combustion engines or any other systems we have the end

any other systems we have the end

any other systems we have the end problem which is the pollution or the

problem which is the pollution or the

problem which is the pollution or the material disposal problem which causing

material disposal problem which causing

material disposal problem which causing a severe and drastic effect on associate

a severe and drastic effect on associate

a severe and drastic effect on associate e in which for living so what is the

e in which for living so what is the

e in which for living so what is the cause and how are we going to solve this

cause and how are we going to solve this

cause and how are we going to solve this we have the need and the solution is

we have the need and the solution is

we have the need and the solution is sustainable and clean and friendly

sustainable and clean and friendly

sustainable and clean and friendly environmentally friendly energy device

environmentally friendly energy device

environmentally friendly energy device so how are we going to achieve this so

so how are we going to achieve this so

so how are we going to achieve this so we need to look for a new kind of energy

we need to look for a new kind of energy

we need to look for a new kind of energy device so I am specialized in working on

device so I am specialized in working on

device so I am specialized in working on the new device which is the fuels the

the new device which is the fuels the

the new device which is the fuels the fuel cell is energy device which

fuel cell is energy device which

fuel cell is energy device which provides electrical energy by using

provides electrical energy by using

provides electrical energy by using simple alcohols as fuels so you just add

simple alcohols as fuels so you just add

simple alcohols as fuels so you just add a drop of liquid or alcohol solution and

a drop of liquid or alcohol solution and

a drop of liquid or alcohol solution and then you get electrical energy and this

then you get electrical energy and this

then you get electrical energy and this is the concept of a fuel cell so what is

is the concept of a fuel cell so what is

is the concept of a fuel cell so what is advantage of yourself how it stands

advantage of yourself how it stands

advantage of yourself how it stands significant from the batteries the super

significant from the batteries the super

significant from the batteries the super capacitors are the current conventional

capacitors are the current conventional

capacitors are the current conventional ones that we use these days is that this

ones that we use these days is that this

ones that we use these days is that this operates in such a way that there is no

operates in such a way that there is no

operates in such a way that there is no release of harmful environmental

release of harmful environmental

release of harmful environmental pollutants there is no release of the

pollutants there is no release of the

pollutants there is no release of the carbon related gases in some differences

carbon related gases in some differences

carbon related gases in some differences yes they do but the concentration is

yes they do but the concentration is

yes they do but the concentration is less then let us say point one person

less then let us say point one person

less then let us say point one person when you compare to these internal

when you compare to these internal

when you compare to these internal combustion engines or bomb or batteries

combustion engines or bomb or batteries

combustion engines or bomb or batteries or whatever so where and it operates in

or whatever so where and it operates in

or whatever so where and it operates in such a way there is no heavy noise

such a way there is no heavy noise

such a way there is no heavy noise produced during the process with his

produced during the process with his

produced during the process with his silent process but it’s zero noise

silent process but it’s zero noise

silent process but it’s zero noise produced during the electrochemical

produced during the electrochemical

produced during the electrochemical process and when it comes to an actual

process and when it comes to an actual

process and when it comes to an actual application or any device it should be

application or any device it should be

application or any device it should be much more easier to scalar from the lab

much more easier to scalar from the lab

much more easier to scalar from the lab to the commercial application and this

to the commercial application and this

to the commercial application and this fuel cell choose the demodex work

fuel cell choose the demodex work

fuel cell choose the demodex work because when you take it to your lab or

because when you take it to your lab or

because when you take it to your lab or to a commercial application the

to a commercial application the

to a commercial application the installation is much more simple

installation is much more simple

installation is much more simple so overall the point of using fuel cell

so overall the point of using fuel cell

so overall the point of using fuel cell is its environmental friendly it is zero

is its environmental friendly it is zero

is its environmental friendly it is zero noise and easy to install so this has a

noise and easy to install so this has a

noise and easy to install so this has a significant age towards other commercial

significant age towards other commercial

significant age towards other commercial devices and this is the actual fuel cell

devices and this is the actual fuel cell

devices and this is the actual fuel cell test station used in your lab from the

test station used in your lab from the

test station used in your lab from the school of chemical engineering in the

school of chemical engineering in the

school of chemical engineering in the university of manchester i specialized

university of manchester i specialized

university of manchester i specialized in working the on synthesizing and by

in working the on synthesizing and by

in working the on synthesizing and by using different materials for the engine

using different materials for the engine

using different materials for the engine room of the fuel cell which is the

room of the fuel cell which is the

room of the fuel cell which is the engine room a subway which is like a

engine room a subway which is like a

engine room a subway which is like a piece of paper

piece of paper

piece of paper and hiring different substances and I

and hiring different substances and I

and hiring different substances and I test the performance of this fuel cell

test the performance of this fuel cell

test the performance of this fuel cell and you can see this is supported by the

and you can see this is supported by the

and you can see this is supported by the methanol which is the alcohol solution

methanol which is the alcohol solution

methanol which is the alcohol solution and the and cylinder and other chemical

and the and cylinder and other chemical

and the and cylinder and other chemical and mechanical components to test the

and mechanical components to test the

and mechanical components to test the performance of the fuel cells and if you

performance of the fuel cells and if you

performance of the fuel cells and if you have a closer look on this operation I

have a closer look on this operation I

have a closer look on this operation I mean the engine room of the fuel cell is

mean the engine room of the fuel cell is

mean the engine room of the fuel cell is much more simpler so you just feed the

much more simpler so you just feed the

much more simpler so you just feed the methanol at the air on two sides so you

methanol at the air on two sides so you

methanol at the air on two sides so you have like the components is much more

have like the components is much more

have like the components is much more simple which is like you have an

simple which is like you have an

simple which is like you have an electronic pathway component on the two

electronic pathway component on the two

electronic pathway component on the two sides with the protonic pathway

sides with the protonic pathway

sides with the protonic pathway component on the center so the

component on the center so the

component on the center so the researchers like us we test different

researchers like us we test different

researchers like us we test different materials based on carbon or any kind of

materials based on carbon or any kind of

materials based on carbon or any kind of materials in this engine room of

materials in this engine room of

materials in this engine room of assembly of the fuel cells so we have

assembly of the fuel cells so we have

assembly of the fuel cells so we have been testing different fuel cells with

been testing different fuel cells with

been testing different fuel cells with different sources of materials and we

different sources of materials and we

different sources of materials and we have like project based on graphene this

have like project based on graphene this

have like project based on graphene this graphene so what is graphene so graphene

graphene so what is graphene so graphene

graphene so what is graphene so graphene is a single sheet of carbon in metal

is a single sheet of carbon in metal

is a single sheet of carbon in metal from the physics cool problems with

from the physics cool problems with

from the physics cool problems with nitro kind of cost universe dope we just

nitro kind of cost universe dope we just

nitro kind of cost universe dope we just got remarkable attention due to its

got remarkable attention due to its

got remarkable attention due to its extensive properties like higher

extensive properties like higher

extensive properties like higher electrical conductivity than any other

electrical conductivity than any other

electrical conductivity than any other material and higher stability and

material and higher stability and

material and higher stability and excellent parking structure suitable to

excellent parking structure suitable to

excellent parking structure suitable to defense of any source of all sorts of

defense of any source of all sorts of

defense of any source of all sorts of applications and we are figuring out how

applications and we are figuring out how

applications and we are figuring out how Ruby could use this for actual fuel cell

Ruby could use this for actual fuel cell

Ruby could use this for actual fuel cell operation but there are almost also

operation but there are almost also

operation but there are almost also different materials available in the

different materials available in the

different materials available in the market today so what makes the graphene

market today so what makes the graphene

market today so what makes the graphene or stands a phenomenon or extensive

or stands a phenomenon or extensive

or stands a phenomenon or extensive material when we compare to other

material when we compare to other

material when we compare to other materials as you could see the structure

materials as you could see the structure

materials as you could see the structure of graphene this is the molecular model

of graphene this is the molecular model

of graphene this is the molecular model of graphene as it can be seen from

of graphene as it can be seen from

of graphene as it can be seen from scanning electron microscope or some

scanning electron microscope or some

scanning electron microscope or some other sophisticated techniques as you

other sophisticated techniques as you

other sophisticated techniques as you could see this is a flat sheet of korver

could see this is a flat sheet of korver

could see this is a flat sheet of korver arranged in a honeycomb lattice so this

arranged in a honeycomb lattice so this

arranged in a honeycomb lattice so this structure makes the flow of different

structure makes the flow of different

structure makes the flow of different substrates across the surface much more

substrates across the surface much more

substrates across the surface much more faster with less resistance than other

faster with less resistance than other

faster with less resistance than other materials as you could see there are

materials as you could see there are

materials as you could see there are other materials like in the

other materials like in the

other materials like in the market the nanotubes catch it black or

market the nanotubes catch it black or

market the nanotubes catch it black or foolery so what makes this more

foolery so what makes this more

foolery so what makes this more important is that the structure if you

important is that the structure if you

important is that the structure if you can see nanotubes these structures are

can see nanotubes these structures are

can see nanotubes these structures are like foiled or wrapped or in different

like foiled or wrapped or in different

like foiled or wrapped or in different forms which makes the travelling of the

forms which makes the travelling of the

forms which makes the travelling of the substance across the surface with with

substance across the surface with with

substance across the surface with with adding some more resistance and this

adding some more resistance and this

adding some more resistance and this graph it has an edge over other

graph it has an edge over other

graph it has an edge over other materials and discuss contributor to

materials and discuss contributor to

materials and discuss contributor to remarkable properties

[Music]

[Music] apart from this having like excellent

apart from this having like excellent

apart from this having like excellent physical chemical properties we also

physical chemical properties we also

physical chemical properties we also found that this graphic can be tuned to

found that this graphic can be tuned to

found that this graphic can be tuned to shoot the demands of our sustainable

shoot the demands of our sustainable

shoot the demands of our sustainable energy device the fuel also so we found

energy device the fuel also so we found

energy device the fuel also so we found that based on the discussions from Andre

that based on the discussions from Andre

that based on the discussions from Andre Gide across your now slow

Gide across your now slow

Gide across your now slow this can be shooted like this graphene

this can be shooted like this graphene

this can be shooted like this graphene could be functionalized to act as

could be functionalized to act as

could be functionalized to act as excellent electronic conductor and also

excellent electronic conductor and also

excellent electronic conductor and also be functionalized with some other agents

be functionalized with some other agents

be functionalized with some other agents to access excellent proton a conductor

to access excellent proton a conductor

to access excellent proton a conductor which is there like two different

which is there like two different

which is there like two different components of the fuel cell so what we

components of the fuel cell so what we

components of the fuel cell so what we did was we took a single piece of sheet

did was we took a single piece of sheet

did was we took a single piece of sheet of graphene socialize with one substrate

of graphene socialize with one substrate

of graphene socialize with one substrate and it acted as an excellent electronic

and it acted as an excellent electronic

and it acted as an excellent electronic conductor we took another sheet of

conductor we took another sheet of

conductor we took another sheet of single egg Rafi function ice with some

single egg Rafi function ice with some

single egg Rafi function ice with some agents which acted as a proton a

agents which acted as a proton a

agents which acted as a proton a conductor so we have like the two

conductor so we have like the two

conductor so we have like the two different components which can be used

different components which can be used

different components which can be used for our friendly device the fuel cell so

for our friendly device the fuel cell so

for our friendly device the fuel cell so we tested the two different forms of

we tested the two different forms of

we tested the two different forms of graphene which is electronic conducting

graphene which is electronic conducting

graphene which is electronic conducting Rafi and the proton conducting Rafi for

Rafi and the proton conducting Rafi for

Rafi and the proton conducting Rafi for the fuel cell applications so what we

the fuel cell applications so what we

the fuel cell applications so what we did was we just assemble them together

did was we just assemble them together

did was we just assemble them together is a graphene fuels in the engine room

is a graphene fuels in the engine room

is a graphene fuels in the engine room of the fuel cell and what we found was

of the fuel cell and what we found was

of the fuel cell and what we found was some interesting improvement in

some interesting improvement in

some interesting improvement in performance which is good for the part

performance which is good for the part

performance which is good for the part of the PhD project so this is the actual

of the PhD project so this is the actual

of the PhD project so this is the actual the power performance curve of the

the power performance curve of the

the power performance curve of the fuel’s own the fuel cell produces

fuel’s own the fuel cell produces

fuel’s own the fuel cell produces electrical energy and we measured the

electrical energy and we measured the

electrical energy and we measured the power from the system so this blue

power from the system so this blue

power from the system so this blue stands for the materials that we supply

stands for the materials that we supply

stands for the materials that we supply from the companies I mean the standard

from the companies I mean the standard

from the companies I mean the standard materials so mainly used the graph

materials so mainly used the graph

materials so mainly used the graph materials so we found enhanced

materials so we found enhanced

materials so we found enhanced implemented performance up to 50 buzzer

implemented performance up to 50 buzzer

implemented performance up to 50 buzzer this improvement in performance is quite

this improvement in performance is quite

this improvement in performance is quite significant and striking future in the

significant and striking future in the

significant and striking future in the fuel cell research because this produces

fuel cell research because this produces

fuel cell research because this produces like much higher more increased

like much higher more increased

like much higher more increased improvement that when they compared to

improvement that when they compared to

improvement that when they compared to other materials and just reported across

other materials and just reported across

other materials and just reported across different institutions across the globe

we also should note that this graphene

we also should note that this graphene is the first tule material ever

is the first tule material ever

is the first tule material ever discovered so as you could see the the

discovered so as you could see the the

discovered so as you could see the the flat sheet this is thousand times

flat sheet this is thousand times

flat sheet this is thousand times thinner than a thickness of an so this

thinner than a thickness of an so this

thinner than a thickness of an so this has a dramatic effect of making the

has a dramatic effect of making the

has a dramatic effect of making the changes to the fuel cell by undergoing

changes to the fuel cell by undergoing

changes to the fuel cell by undergoing or implementing a massive size reduction

or implementing a massive size reduction

or implementing a massive size reduction to all the systems in which the graphene

to all the systems in which the graphene

to all the systems in which the graphene is you student so overall we get a clean

is you student so overall we get a clean

is you student so overall we get a clean and environmentally friendly energy by

and environmentally friendly energy by

and environmentally friendly energy by using the graphene in the fuel cell with

using the graphene in the fuel cell with

using the graphene in the fuel cell with enhanced performance and we also produce

enhanced performance and we also produce

enhanced performance and we also produce water which is support of our friendly

water which is support of our friendly

water which is support of our friendly device the fuel cell and we have that is

device the fuel cell and we have that is

device the fuel cell and we have that is a possibility to go for like the massive

a possibility to go for like the massive

a possibility to go for like the massive increase reduction in size as a result

increase reduction in size as a result

increase reduction in size as a result of using graphene are based on the

of using graphene are based on the

of using graphene are based on the results obtained we are now trying to

results obtained we are now trying to

results obtained we are now trying to scale up the process for different

scale up the process for different

scale up the process for different applications like laptop charges the

applications like laptop charges the

applications like laptop charges the smartphone applications and we are

smartphone applications and we are

smartphone applications and we are trying to collaborate with companies to

trying to collaborate with companies to

trying to collaborate with companies to go for automotive applications so and

go for automotive applications so and

go for automotive applications so and also not only the advantages we also

also not only the advantages we also

also not only the advantages we also have working on quite drawbacks which is

have working on quite drawbacks which is

have working on quite drawbacks which is like the cost of the traffic right now

like the cost of the traffic right now

like the cost of the traffic right now the cost of the graphene is it’s adding

the cost of the graphene is it’s adding

the cost of the graphene is it’s adding twice the amount of the preparation of

twice the amount of the preparation of

twice the amount of the preparation of engine room assembly when you compare to

engine room assembly when you compare to

engine room assembly when you compare to the commercial ones so now we are

the commercial ones so now we are

the commercial ones so now we are working on different methods on the

working on different methods on the

working on different methods on the processes to reduce the the cause by

processes to reduce the the cause by

processes to reduce the the cause by going for different methods or using the

going for different methods or using the

going for different methods or using the same matter or by using like changing

same matter or by using like changing

same matter or by using like changing the techniques so as we can get the

the techniques so as we can get the

the techniques so as we can get the graphene at like much more cheaper cost

graphene at like much more cheaper cost

graphene at like much more cheaper cost so the future can be realized in such a

so the future can be realized in such a

so the future can be realized in such a way that we can get

way that we can get

way that we can get electrical energy just from a piece of

electrical energy just from a piece of

electrical energy just from a piece of paper and a few drops of alcohol that

paper and a few drops of alcohol that

paper and a few drops of alcohol that could power our household industrial

could power our household industrial

could power our household industrial applications and everything so this

applications and everything so this

applications and everything so this could make a dramatic changes to the

could make a dramatic changes to the

could make a dramatic changes to the energy technology industry so if more

energy technology industry so if more

energy technology industry so if more research is carried out and if this

research is carried out and if this

research is carried out and if this material is properly utilized so this

material is properly utilized so this

material is properly utilized so this could make a drastic and dramatic

could make a drastic and dramatic

could make a drastic and dramatic changes to the energy industry and make

changes to the energy industry and make

changes to the energy industry and make a good thing for our goodness horrible

a good thing for our goodness horrible

a good thing for our goodness horrible future Enron little sustainable society

future Enron little sustainable society

future Enron little sustainable society thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]